Begonia plant named ‘Houston Fiesta’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Rex Begonia plant named ‘Houston Fiesta’, characterized by its uniform growth habit; moderate plant vigor; no requirement for winter dormancy; and interesting and attractive leaf coloration and pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia rex hybrid, commercially known asRex Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Houston Fiesta’.

The new Rex Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in acontrolled environment in Vista, Calif., in 1995, within a large groupof seedling progeny from multiple crossings of unidentified selectionsof Begonia rex hybrids.

The selection of this plant was based on its uniform growth habit,moderate plant vigor, and attractive foliage coloration and pattern.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rex Begonia by leaf cuttings taken in acontrolled environment in Vista, Calif., has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Rex Begonia are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Houston Fiesta’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Houston Fiesta’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Houston Fiesta’ as a new and distinct RexBegonia:

1. Uniform growth habit.

2. Moderate plant vigor.

3. Does not require winter dormancy.

4. Interesting and attractive leaf coloration and pattern.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Vista, Calif.,plants of the new Rex Begonia differ from plants of the nonpatentedcultivar Merry Christmas Corkscrew in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Rex Begonia have flatter leaves than plants of thecultivar Merry Christmas Corkscrew.

2. Leaves of plants of the new Rex Begonia and the cultivar MerryChristmas Corkscrew differ in coloration and pattern.

3. Leaves of plants of the new Rex Begonia do not have a “corkscrew”formation whereas leaves of plants of the cultivar Merry ChristmasCorkscrew have a “corkscrew” formation.

4. Plants of the new Rex Begonia do not require a winter dormancy periodwhereas plants of the cultivar Merry Christmas Corkscrew do require awinter dormancy period.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Vista, Calif.,plants of the new Rex Begonia differ from plants of the nonpatentedcultivar Lillium in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Rex Begonia are more compact than plants of thecultivar Lillium.

2. Plants of the new Rex Begonia have flatter and more rounded leavesthan plants of the cultivar Lillium.

3. Leaves of plants of the new Rex Begonia and the cultivar Lilliumdiffer in coloration and pattern.

4. Plants of the new Rex Begonia do not require a winter dormancy periodwhereas plants of the cultivar Lillium do require a winter dormancyperiod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Rex Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Houston Fiesta’.Foliage colors in the photograph may differ from the actual colors dueto light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown during the spring in Vista,Calif., under conditions which approximate commercial practice. Plantsused for this description were grown in 15-cm containers for about 3months.

Botanical classification: Begonia rex hybrid cultivar Houston Fiesta.

Commercial classification: Rex Begonia.

Parentage: Chance seedling of multiple crossings of unidentifiedselections of Begonia rex hybrids.

Propagation:

Type.—Leaf cuttings.

Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 56 days at 21° C.

Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 56 days at 21° C.

Time to develop roots, summer.—About 84 days at 21° C.

Time to develop roots, winter.—About 98 days at 21° C.

Rooting habit.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Rosette; compact; dense and outwardly arching potted plant;freely basal branching with good leaf petiole strength.

Vigor.—Moderate.

Plant height, soil surface to top of leaf canopy.—About 21.5 cm.

Plant width.—About 62 cm.

Leaves.—Arrangement: Simple. Length: Petiole to apex: About 14.5 cm.Base to apex: About 22.5 cm. Width: About 12.5 cm. Shape: Asymmetrical,oblique, ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Asymmetrically cordate. Margin:Pectinate; and very irregularly undulate. Texture: Leathery, rugose;pubescence on lower surface veins. Color: Young foliage, upper surface:Margin: 187A with antemarginal border of 186C. Central venal areas:200C, bordered by metallic 186B to 186C with overtones of 185B. Blade:Iridescent 148D and 194C with a background of 146A. Speckles of 148D and194C extending to margin. Young foliage, lower surface: Margin: 187B.Central venal areas: 178A, bleeding along veins. Background: 148C.Mature, fully expanded, foliage, upper surface: Margin: Dark brown,200A. Central venal areas: 200A. Blade: Metallic 185B to 185C, speckledwith 46C; merging with iridescent 191D. Antemarginal: Irregular borderof iridescent green, 146D, containing numerous spots of 148D and 186C.Veins: 200C. Mature, fully expanded, foliage, lower surface: Margin:183A to 178A. Blade: 183A to 178A. Background: 148C. Veins: 183B;reticulate.

Petioles.—Length: About 15.8 cm. Diameter: About 6.2 mm. Shape:Longitudinally grooved. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 173A, 160D to 199D atleaf base.

Stipules.—Length: About 17.5 mm. Diameter at base: About 7.5 mm. Shape:Subulate, deltoid. Color: Close to 142A.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.—Male flowers, single with one whorl of four tepals.Female flowers, semi-double with three tepals interior to outer whorl offive tepals. Usually about three or four flowers per cyme. Flowerspersistent.

Natural flowering season.—Plants will flower continuously, but typicallyplants flower more abundantly during the spring and summer.

Flowers.—Shape: Rounded; somewhat cup-shaped. Diameter: About 4.4 cm.Depth (height): About 2.5 cm. Aspect: Drooping about 20° from vertical.Fragrance: None.

Flower buds.—Shape: Spherical; bulbous with marginal lip. Length: About13 mm. Diameter: About 9.5 mm. Color: 47A at pedicel to 52A at margin.

Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Length: About 2.1 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm.Shape: Ovate with obtuse apex. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, waxy;iridescent, translucent. Color: When opening, upper surface: 55C. Whenopening, lower surface: 55A to 55D. Fully opened, upper surface: 55B.Fully opened, lower surface: 55A.

Peduncles.—Angle: About 30° from vertical. Length: About 4.5 cm.Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Firm. Texture: Smooth, waxy. Color: 166Bto 165A.

Pedicels.—Angle: About 35° from vertical. Length: About 1.7 cm.Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderate. Texture: Smooth, waxy. Color:173A.

Reproductive organs.—Male flowers: Stamen quantity: About 110, globosemass. Anther shape: Rhomboidal; lower sides curved inwardly. Antherlength: About 2.5 mm. Filament length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Closeto 15B. Pollen: Not observed. Female flowers: Pistil length: About 2 cm.Stigma shape: Funnel; bilobate. Stigma color: 162B, 163C. Ovary:Inferior; three-winged; one large top wing and two lower wings; bothsurfaces, 34A with overtones of 45A.

Disease resistance: Resistance to diseases common to Rex Begonia has notbeen determined.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rex Begonia plant named‘Houston Fiesta’, as illustrated and described.